Throughout the year, we'll be profiling members of the spirit squad and band. Here's our first installment with senior spirit squad member, Alyssa Petti.

Alyssa PettiSenior2nd year on Spirit SquadEducational Studies Major

Q: What made you choose ASU?

A: ASU's first major was education and the school is really good, so that's why I chose to come here.

Q: What do you want to do with your education degree?

A: I'm not sure what I want to do yet, but if I do teach in classroom I want to teach fourth grade. Being a dance teacher would always be a good route, but really I just want any job where I'm teaching someone else. I have such a passion for teaching overall whether it's adults or children.

Q: Who has been your favorite professor here at ASU?

A: It's actually someone I have now. Professor Newsome, she is just so personable and even the first week of class, I felt like she wanted us to exceed and I felt like I could come to her for anything and she really pushes us as students.

Q: What do you like to do outside of Spirit Squad?

A: I work part time for a bathing suit company and I also intern for Hirsch Academy as a teaching assistant and besides that reading is really therapeutic for me.

Q: What is a stereotype you don't like about Spirit Squad?

A: I think it is that we are ditzy or dumb, but really you have to maintain a high GPA to even be on this team and we're always on top of our studies.

Q: What's your favorite element of being on the Spirit Squad?

A: I think it's all the friendships. Last year was my first year and we got a chance to go to worlds and it was the most amazing experience and making good friends on the team because you're with them all the time but really I've met the nicest people.

Q: What's your favorite part about gameday?

A: I think its being up on the field and looking into the stands and just seeing the huge crowd. It's really intimidating but at the same time it's really exhilarating.

Q: What made you decide to do this as a junior?

A: My freshman year, I missed the tryouts. And my sophomore year, I got knee surgery. So, my junior year I said, "This is it," I've wanted to be a part of this for so long.

Q: Was it difficult coming later than most?

A: It was a little weird at first just because I was in a class of all freshmen, but everyone came in with welcoming arms and so I felt like I had been on the team for a while, even though I had no idea what I was doing. They really prepared you for what to expect.

Q: What are you most looking forward to this year?

A: I think it's going to nationals, being on the nationals floor with my team is just a completely different world. It's just a great experience.